Imago
The first race of 2020 has already been run…and won, with Max Verstappen taking the opening victory of the season in Melbourne. Four days before the official start of the Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix, the Dutchman took on Aston Martin Red Bull Racing teammate Alex Albon in a series of challenges, including a motorised cooler boxes race at speeds of up to 25kph, hosted by Winter Olympic snowboard medallist Scotty James. // F1 drivers Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon at the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing ‘Cooler Runnings’ race at Station Pier in Melbourne, Australia on March 11, 2020. // Andy Green / Red Bull Content Pool
Imago
The first race of 2020 has already been run…and won, with Max Verstappen taking the opening victory of the season in Melbourne. Four days before the official start of the Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix, the Dutchman took on Aston Martin Red Bull Racing teammate Alex Albon in a series of challenges, including a motorised cooler boxes race at speeds of up to 25kph, hosted by Winter Olympic snowboard medallist Scotty James. // F1 drivers Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon at the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing ‘Cooler Runnings’ race at Station Pier in Melbourne, Australia on March 11, 2020. // Andy Green / Red Bull Content Pool
Second chances are very rare in Formula 1. Usually, when a driver fails to impress or live up to the potential, they are axed and they normally don’t see F1 again. But Alex Albon is an exceptional case.
The Thai driver, who was axed by Red Bull at the end of 2020, was signed by Williams last year for the coming season, ‘earning’ his second chance in an F1 seat. But while many would think that Williams simply filled up their seat with Albon who was an option in a pool of drivers, Williams boss Jost Capito had something to say.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
“Albon was always the number one choice, even though we had a lot of drivers to choose from,” he said.
Capito described why Albon and Williams are right for each other, considering the moment both parties are currently in. And it wouldn’t work except for Albon even if the other driver was a world champion.
“Looking at the current state of the team, Alex Albon stands out as a logical choice for us,” said Capito. “For example, if Max Verstappen were in the team now, he would have been the right driver to come to the team at the wrong time.”
“You have to have a driver who is not yet at the peak of his career but has experience,” he added. (Translated via Google Translate)
"Let's get to work" 😎
The @alex_albon and @WilliamsRacing story begins!#F1pic.twitter.com/sWtkX59UbE
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 21, 2022
Alex Albon ‘surprised’ by Max Verstappen
In a recent interview, Alex Albon described the thing about his former teammate, that surprised him more than anything. “I was surprised by his ability not to worry. Mentally he’s incredible,” Albon said. “He just drives the car and don’t think about the consequences or anything else that’s going on. That inspired me.”
He added, “If he finished behind Lewis, he would say: Okay, never mind. If he led a race or won a race, it was also: Okay, whatever. I admire that because it’s not easy to be in the limelight as much as he is.”
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Red Bull’s Alexander Albon during a press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Looking forward to the coming season, Alex Albon asserted that he is not a rookie anymore and that he knows what he’s doing and what he wants.
And as for what he wants, it’s probably on the lines of winning races.
Also Read: Teary-Eyed Max Verstappen Revisits Abu Dhabi F1 Wins as He Sheds Light on Painful Leg Cramp
